Collapsible dish draining rack



E. H. JENNESS GOLLAPSIBLE DISH DRAINING RACK Aug. 16, 1949.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 12, 1947 INVENTOR, fowml bflew/was 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 E. H. JENNESS COLLAPSIBLE DISH DRAINING RACK Filed July 12, 1947 INVENTOR, [DW/N H. fE/VNESS 14 r ram/vs vs Patented Aug. 16, 1949 oonmi smiin msn DRAlN'ING RACK niiwinfii. Teriiies's, "shakrireigiits, "Ohio Application-51115 42, 1947 sem1 No. 760,583

7 =11 w This invention relates to collapsible dish feik's lyexpa'ndedinto "operative eoniiit'iemerto be ioiitednito aicom eet, inoperative pei'tien fo'r storage;

eenstruc'ti'ons 6f "this generelljnaturefnave been suggested. However, none of *sii'ch pidpo's'e'dcon etnrctrans have been satisfactory and the grai nary 'dish rack s'o'ld and ii'sed t'oeay isa bulky, awkward article that is difiieiilt to 's'tore.

r-ire genefal obje'o't' tif the 13'ifes'erfl' invention is moterovicreza rmveipim ve cenapsible"dishjrecic that :is rhareeterrzee bility 35o euppdrt dishes saierytherein ror drai rig andwniehfifs capable df being fdlded to pi ovide aioonihiet siibstan tiallyzplanar articletwhenstbre'd.

Another object of thelinverition is to it; ovi {J collapsible dish rack that can readily be adjusted between operative and ii'ioperativeipositions and, "with equal facility, be secured fixedly either of suchzpositions. v

.imother abject of ther invention' to :prov-i'de an inexpensive, uncomplicated, collapsible dish rack that is attractive in. appearance and which is made from readily formed and convenientlyassembled light weight members. i

Another and a more limited object-0i the in"; vention is to "provide-an open centered upper frame for a dish :raclpwhich is adapted :to retain dishes in engagement with the raek aaiid which is mounted on. trunnion s=portionsrof -d-ish support wiresjournaled on the base of the eek;

Yet another object of the invention is to pr'o vide a collapsible-dish supportrack. involving remtively movable top and bottom portions that are 'operatively connected by means of dish support wires. e

Another'objeetof the invention is *to provide, ii-1 a collapsible dish support rack, a light Weight laminated frame designedand constrheted to a-fiord a plurality of lzreai ings, which frame is formed :from one -fiat member and another "member-associated therewith andhavirrga pluraliti -of arcuate offset orcdepressed @portions forming said bearings.

The "foregoing and-other objects and adv'an=- tagesof the invention will be made amtaferrt as the-specification proceeds.

Eeferen'ce :now is made to the accompanying drawings wherein a e V 'Fig. 1 iis=a lirerspective 'view foi a col'lapsime d i'sh rack embodying the irrrirreipleso'f the invention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse s-eetion on has 2-=-2 "of Fig. '1, Witha dish being indicated in A dotted lines as engaged in the rack; Fig. -3 is a vertical section taken on line 3 3 *ef Fig. 2; a

'4 is a vertioaleeetion taken on-line =ofv Fig.2.; a f,

have been some atteinp'tfs n aims. (01. 21141) 1 1 r5 is-a er a modified formfiof collapsible dishsraele;

6 is-a side elevation ofthe rack of Fig. '55; Fig. 7 is 'a vertical section on line 1 of 5; and 1 1 =Fig-8 is a sectional detail showing a' modified .f-orm of the upper-framerof the rack;

Attention nowis directed to'the details of the construction disclosed in the drawings wherein a collapsibledish rack F0 is shown "Dhe'dishraek i9 includes a bottom tray 1'! which has a-nedge bead formed thereon in. any conventional manner, which head extends .completely around the tray 1 l except for a section thereof *occm'died by e-dischargemouth13 formed i ntereii with the tray H. ThetrayW-ITI ordinarilyis forrne'd from ihetai :sheetg ailthoisghin -some instances it miay he'formed'frbm Jplastie or other 'smitabieenaterial; and has anyiconventional "edge reinforee meat provided therefor. '"Preterabiy tray H is provided with supporting heme-ere or feet M at theend'thei'eof remote from the discharge mouth le'tsortnat the hishrack m can he positiene'd witntne tra'y inclifi-ed toward the discharge mouth for eiscnangeer water 'conectin on the 1 As a; featere or the invention, I arovide an open centered,ifiat upper framelii for the dig race. This wiper era-me 15 is laminated and upper layer Ifi'an'd a lower layer '4 1, with "sueh layers It and I? being formed from a pluraii-ty =51 eieces tvhib'h may he Lsnape so their-no marge die 'or tether forming means is required in "their memnracnrre, and so as tolminirnize weste'of teriai. =Pr'efei ably an of the nieces *oi the 1a It md 11 i'a re formed we ate p-edinetereai aitneu gn the rnventien is nbtliir'ii ted to the use of such materials. The joints between tiresom ea -rents fiirni'inE the layers meme-i are oflset vertically 'jwithiei ation to eacn other, as indinn Fig. 1; "to eie'v-iee aswrdy but light weight "construction. Figs. 1 and 3 or he caraviirg cream showtisalt'tne sem inpi i'sing the 'leiiflei -layei". l F are ierovided cu'ate bearing p61" one er' aeere sie s r3." eneseporfions '18 are 1 -5 and weenie-"ween flair steer rewr te to eenneeee gs' or v "later in be described, *used i snpibortnig andjpo'sitioi ing the niiper semis. Y? 1 S0 es 170 provide di d suppo'it means the diskreck m, a lurai'ityof dish s'ep'p'ort wires, or the like, is are nositioned substantially fius'h against the uppersurfa'ce tor-the tray H hy ineains of a hair of 'or' 'lositi'onin'g tbars 2| that are secziicred to the tray '1l inany tdesir'ed manner, as by' welel in'g, in spaced but parallel relation. Hie wires i-9 are fpivbtally positioned by the bars 2*! for =-afipuirpose t'o ibe hereinafter described in detail and they are provided with dish support ihg'lloeps nor arches =2'A1lnter-mediate *the portions 3, of the wires engaged with the opposed positioning bars 2 I so that such loops 22 can be disposed between positions substantially parallel with and at right angles to the tray II. As a feature of the invention, the wires I9 extend beyond the positioning bars 2| and are provided with end sections or arms 23 which extend from the por tion of the wire extending between the positionin bars 2I in the same general direction as do the loops 22. These arms 23 are provided with axially outwardly extending trunnions 24 that' are journaled in the aforesaid bearing portionsi- I3 so that the frame I5 is carried by the plurality of arms 23.

The foregoing construction permits arcuate movement of the frame I5, while the latter is maintained parallel with the tray I I, from a position closely adjacent the tray to one a substantial distance above the tray, with the arms 23 extending normally therefrom.

So as to retain the frame II in a given position with the dish support loops 22 at a desired angle to the tray II, a substantially U-shaped bail 25 is pivotally carried by the upper frame I5 adjacent the end thereof remote from the discharge mouth I3. This bail 25 has trunnions at the ends thereof for engagement with bearing portions of the frame I5 and the bail is adapted to be engaged with any of a plurality of sets of recesses 26, 21, formed in the upper surfaces of the positioning bars 2|. The dish rack Ill is adapted to be retained in a collapsed position by means of a resilient clip 28 that is carried by the tray II and extends upwardly from the end thereof adjacent the bail 25. This clip 28 is adapted to engage the frame I5 and retain it closely adjacent the tray II when the frame is swung to such position. The bail 25 may be used to hang up the dish rack II], when it is collapsed. For such action, the bail 25 should be swung up out of engagement with the recesses 26 or 21 and held so as to extend out from the frame I5 whereby the bail 25 can be swung over the clip 28 and protrude from the dish rack for use as a hanger.

I preferably provide the tray II with upwardly extending bosses 29 that are located in the central portion of the tray adjacent each of the wires I9. Thus the bosses 29 can be used to retain the bottom of a dish engaged with the dish rack so as to position the dish at a desired angle to the vertical.

As a modification of the invention, I provide a dish rack 30 that is generally similar to the dish rack I but which eliminates the use of a bottom tray and provides a bottom frame member very similar to the upper frame member. In the dish rack 39, a bottom frame H and an upper frame I 5 are pivotally connected by means of a plurality of wires I9. In this instance, the frames I5 and I I5 are of the same general construction as the frame I5 with one modification being made in forming the bottom frame II5, which is that the upper sections or layers IIB of the frame I I5 are provided with bearing portions II I therein that extend upwardly therefrom. These portions II'I combine with the lower section H8 of the frame to journal trunnions of the wires I9 therein. A positioning bail is pivotally carried by the frame W, for engagement within notches in the frame I I5 so as to hold the rack in either of two operative positions, and the top frame I5 coacts with a clip 28 for retaining the dish rack in a collapsed position.

From the foregoing, it should be apparent that the dish rack of the invention, according to either of the illustrated embodiments, can be easily collapsed into a substantially flat condition for storage, and with equal ease expanded into condition for use. The components of the dish rack can be made from inexpensive but attractive materials so that a convenient, easily cleaned, long-wearing dish rack of pleasing appearance can be provided at low cost. The laminated sections of the frames used in the dish rack can be secured together in any conventional manner, such as Welding, when the frame is made from metallic components. The dish support wires, as well as the rest of the dish rack, may be rubber covered, if desired.

An advantage in the form of the invention wherein a tray constitutes the base member is that, when the rack is used on any surface liable to be damaged by water, the tray protects such surface. In such case, the rack is arranged so that the tray will discharge the water into a sink or other receptacle.

In the modification of the invention illustrated in Fig. 8, the upper frame, designated by the reference character I5 includes side members that consist of downwardly opening channels, the inner flanges of which have spaced apertures'that provide the bearings for the trunnions 24 on the arms 23 of the dish support elements or wires I 9*. Said elements or wires I 9 are pivotally connected, through the medium of positioning bars, gobthe tray II one of such bars being shown at While specific embodiments of the invention have been illlustrated and described in detail herein, further modification may be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A dish rack comprising a support tray having a raised edge portion and a discharge mouth formed thereon, an open rectangular frame having a pair of sides spaced apart a distance greater than the dish adapted to be held therein, a pair of support members carried by said tray in spaced but parallel relation, a plurality of dish support elements journaled by and extending between said support members substantially flush against said tray, said elements having integral arms ex-- tending upwardly therefrom at the ends thereof and havin trunnions pivotally engaged with said sides of the frame to position the same, each of said elements having an upwardly directed loop formed therein intermediate the journaled portions thereof adapted for engagement with an individual dish, a bail journaled at its ends on said frame and adapted to engage with recesses formed in said support members in a removable manner for retaining said elements and frame in a given position with relation to said tray but to permit the collapse of the said frame and elements, and a clip carried on said tray for retaining said elements and frame adjacent the surface of said tray when the rack is collapsed.

2. A dish rack as in claim 1 wherein said frame is laminated and comprises sheet sections of substantially L-shape with two fiat sections being combined to form one layer of the frame and with two sections having arcuate bearing portions formed therein being combined to form another layer of the frame, said last-named sections being positioned so as to form a plurality of bearings with the remainder of said frame which receive the trunnions of the arm sections of said elements.

3. A dish rack as in claim 1 wherein means are provided on the tray for positioning said tray with its discharge mouth at the lower edge thereof.

4. A dish rack comprising a support tray, an open rectangular frame having a pair of sides spaced apart a distance greater than the dish adapted to be held therein, a pair of positioning members carried by said tray in spaced but parallel relation, a plurality of dish support elements journaled in and extending between said positioning members, said elements having integral arms extending upwardly therefrom at the ends thereof and pivotally engaged with said sides of the frame to position same, each of said elements having an upwardly directed loop formed therein adapted for support of an individual dish, and a support member journaled on said frame and adapted to removably engage with a recess in said positioning members for retaining said elements and frame in a given position with relation to said tray.

5. A dish rack as in claim 4 wherein said dish support elements and said frame can be pivoted down closely adjacent to said tray, and a clip is provided for retaining said elements and frame in the described position.

6. A dish rack as in claim 4 wherein said support member is in the form of a bail with its ends journaled on said frame so that it is capable of being swung beyond the end of the frame where it can be used as a hanger member for supporting the rack when stored.

7. A dish rack as in claim 4 wherein said tray has integral bosses formed thereon in the center portion of said tray adjacent each of said elements to aid in positioning a dish on edge in the rack.

8. A collapsible dish rack comprising a base member, a plurality of dish support wires journaled on said base member at spaced points therealong, each of said wires having dish support arches formed therein intermediate the journaled portions thereof and defining a plane therewith; each of said wires having end sections extending therefrom substantially in said frame, said end sections having trunnions formed thereon, an open quadrilateral upper frame havin a pair of sides spaced apart a distance greater than the dish adapted to be held therein located parallel to and above said base member, said upper frame being positioned by the end sections of said wires which are pivotally engaged therewith to position said upper frame for movement through an arc while retained parallel to said base member, and means for retaining the upper. frame in a position in spaced relation to the base member.

9. A collapsible dish rack comprising a base member, a plurality of dish support elements journaled on said base member in spaced but parallel relation, said elements having dish support portions formed therein, each of said elements having end sections in substantially the same plane as the dish support portions, an open quadrilateral upper frame having a pair of sides spaced apart a distance greater than the dish adapted to be held therein positioned above said base member, said upper frame being supported by the end sections of said elements which pivotally engage therewith to position said upper frame for swinging movement on said base member, and means for retaining the upper frame in a position in spaced relation to the base member.

10. A dish rack as in claim 9 wherein said means consisting of a device that is operatively connected to said upper frame and removably engages parts on said base member to retain said upper frame in a given position with respect to said base member.

11. A dish rack as in claim 9 wherein said upper frame is laminated and comprises sheet sections of angular shape with two flat sections being combined to form one layer of the frame and with two sections having arcuate bearing portions formed therein being combined to form another layer of the frame, said last-named sections being positioned so as to form a plurality of bearings with the remainder of said frame which receive the end sections of said elements.

12. A collapsible dish rack comprising an open base frame, a plurality of dish support elements pivotally connected to said base frame and extending between opposed portions thereof in spaced but parallel relation, said elements having dish support portions formed therein intermediate the pivoted portions thereof, each of said elements having end sections extending therefrom in the same general direction as the dish support portions, an open quadrilateral upper frame having a pair of sides spaced apart a distance greater than the dish adapted to be held therein positioned substantially parallel to and above said base frame, said upper frame being supported by the end sections of said elements 1 which pivotally engage therewith to position said upper frame for movement on an arc centered on said base frame, and means operatively connected to said upper frame and adapted to removably engage with said base frame to retain said upper frame in a given position.

13. A dish rack as in claim 12 wherein said frames are laminated and comprise stamped metal sheet sections of angular shape with two fiat sect ions being combined to form one layer of each frame and with two sections having arcuate bearing portions formed therein being combined to form another layer of each frame, said lastnamed sections being positioned so as to form a plurality of bearings with the remainder of each section of said frame for journaled engagement with said elements, the respective joints in the sections comprising the layers of said frames being at diagonally opposite corners of the frame.

EDWIN H. JENNESS.

REFERENCES orrnn The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name 7 Date 646,295 Maas Mar. 27, 1900 1,682,654 Andrews Aug. 28, 1928 1,883,974 Kusterle Oct. 25, 1932 2,443,404 Tallarico June 15, 1948 

